The Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program comprised four projects :
� Burdekin Irrigation Project — delivered by Sugar Research Australia with support from a consortium of stakeholders — supported growers to adopt smarter irrigation practices , benefiting profitability and the environment .
� Precision to Decision — delivered by Farmacist — supported growers to more effectively apply inputs by better understanding soil variability within blocks .
� Project Bluewater 2 — delivered by Farmacist — supported growers to optimise their spray chemical application .
� Major Grants Program — delivered by NQ Dry Tropics with support from Sugar Research Australia and agronomy service providers Farmacist , AgriTech Solutions and Aglantis — supported growers involved with the Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program to maintain momentum and achieve further efficiencies .
Joining the Burdekin Irrigation Project enabled Burdekin Delta growers Ross and Lisa Parker to improve irrigation efficiency by installing an automated irrigation system .
“ We want to be economically sustainable by increasing profit and reducing expenses , but it ’ s also important for us to farm in an environmentally sustainable and responsible way . We ’ ve got little kids , and we want them to be able to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef in the future . And then there ’ s the investment in our quality of life and giving us more family time , which you can ’ t put a price on .”
BURDEKIN DELTA GROWER LISA PARKER
BIP participants Lisa and Ross Parker .
18 NQ DRY TROPICS | YEAR IN REVIEW 2023-24